Dainty — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈdān-tē/ dain·ty

Meaning & Definition of Dainty

Dainty (noun)

  1. something delicious to the taste
  2. something choice or pleasing
  3. fastidiousness

Dainty (adjective)

  1. tasting good, tasty
  2. attractively prepared and served
  3. marked by delicate or diminutive beauty, form, or grace

Dainty (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. hard to please

    "you can't afford to be dainty about food when you're starving"

    similar: choosy, delicate, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, pernickety (chiefly British), persnickety, picky
    related: hyperfastidious, overdemanding, ultrafastidious, discerning, discriminating, selective, insightful, knowledgeable, captious, carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, careful, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, queasy, squeamish, peevish, petulant, prickly, touchy, niminy-piminy, prim, prissy
    opposite: undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy
    near: affable, breezy, carefree, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed, flexible, lax, loose, lenient, permissive, uncritical, indiscriminating, undiscriminating

  2. having qualities that appeal to a refined taste

    "the dainty hors d'oeuvres were delicious, but not terribly filling"

    similar: choice, delicate, elegant, exquisite, fine, rare, recherché, select
    related: bijou, jewellike, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, elite, exclusive, classic, excellent, fabulous, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, noble, outstanding, par excellence, premium, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, transcendent, unsurpassed, wonderful, ultrarare
    near: coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, tasteless, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar, commercial, mass-produced, popular, common, ordinary, average, lesser, mediocre, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, deficient, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

  3. satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness

    "a set of dainty teacups that would be perfect for an elderly lady"

    similar: airy, delicate, exquisite, nuanced, refined, subtle
    related: choice, elegant, extraordinary, incomparable, peerless, preeminent, prime, rare, select, superior, superlative, supreme, transcendent, unsurpassed, picked, selected, fine, fragile, frail
    opposite: robust, strong, sturdy
    near: coarse, crude, rough, common, ordinary, average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, medium, middling, run-of-the-mill, second-rate

  4. very pleasing to the sense of taste

    "the sort of dainty finger foods that might be served at afternoon tea"

    similar: ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, delicious, delish, flavorful, flavorsome, luscious, lush, mouthwatering, palatable, savory, scrumptious, succulent, tasteful, tasty, toothsome, toothy, yummy
    related: digestible, eatable, edible, delightful, heavenly, pleasing, agreeable, gratifying, pleasant, satisfying, choice, delicate, exquisite, rare
    opposite: distasteful, flat, flavorless, insipid, stale, tasteless, unappetizing, unpalatable, unsavory, yucky
    near: banal, boring, commonplace, tedious, noisome, smelly, stinky, noxious, unwholesome, miserable, wretched, abhorrent, abominable, awful, detestable, disagreeable, disgusting, foul, horrid, nauseating, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, sickening, unpleasant

Dainty (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury

    "the widow plied her suitor with dainties and endless glasses of sherry"

    similar: bit, cate (archaic), delectable, delicacy, goody, kickshaw, tidbit, treat, viand
    related: morsel, candy, dessert, junket, sweet, sweetmeat

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dainty

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dainty:

Chiefly British: pernickety
Archaic: cate
choosy, delicate, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, persnickety, picky, choice, elegant, exquisite, fine, rare, recherché, select, airy, nuanced, refined, subtle, ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, delicious, delish, flavorful, flavorsome, luscious, lush, mouthwatering, palatable, savory, scrumptious, succulent

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dainty

Words with the opposite meaning of Dainty:

undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy, robust, strong, sturdy, distasteful, flat, flavorless, insipid, stale, tasteless, unappetizing, unpalatable, unsavory, yucky

Related Words for Dainty

hyperfastidious, overdemanding, ultrafastidious, discerning, discriminating, selective, insightful, knowledgeable, captious, carping, caviling, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, careful, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, queasy, squeamish, peevish, petulant, prickly, touchy, niminy-piminy, prim, prissy, bijou

Near Antonyms of Dainty

affable, breezy, carefree, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical, laid-back, low-pressure, relaxed, flexible, lax, loose, lenient, permissive, uncritical, indiscriminating, undiscriminating, coarse, gross, kitsch, kitschy, lowbrow, raffish, rough, rough-hewn, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, unrefined, vulgar

Word Forms of Dainty

Inflections: dainties, daintier, daintiest

Derived words: daintily (adverb), daintiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dainty

Middle English deinte, dainte "state of honor, high esteem, delight, luxury, marvel, delicacy, choice morsel," borrowed from Anglo-French deinté, dainté "esteem, fine object or deed, choice morsel" (continental Old French deintié), going back to Latin dignitāt-, dignitās "suitability, excellence, standing, esteem" dignity

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Dainty

What does "Dainty" mean?

"Dainty" means something delicious to the taste. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: something delicious to the taste. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dainty"?

Other words for "Dainty" include choosy, delicate, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking and finicky. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dainty" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dainty"?

There are 146 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dainty". Common alternatives include choosy, delicate, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussbudgety and fussy.

What is the opposite of "Dainty"?

Antonyms of "Dainty" include undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy, robust, strong, sturdy, distasteful and flat. Near antonyms include affable, breezy, carefree and devil-may-care.

How do you use "Dainty" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dainty" in a sentence: "you can't afford to be dainty about food when you're starving"; "the dainty hors d'oeuvres were delicious, but not terribly filling"; "a set of dainty teacups that would be perfect for an elderly lady".

Is "Dainty" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dainty" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Dainty"?

"Dainty" is pronounced /ˈdān-tē/ and divided into syllables as dain·ty.

What is the origin of the word "Dainty"?

"Dainty" comes from Middle English deinte, dainte "state of honor, high esteem, delight, luxury, marvel, delicacy, choice morsel," borrowed from Anglo-French deinté, dainté "esteem, fine object or deed, choice morsel" (continental Old French deintié), going back to Latin dignitāt-, dignitās "suitability, excellence, standing, esteem" dignity. First known use: 14th century.